Antirrhinum plant named ‘Snap Daddy Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Antirrhinum , ‘Snap Daddy Pink’, characterized by its variegated foliage with distinct cream-colored margins and grey-green centers, its new growth tips with yellow margins and yellow-green centers, its multiple branches, and its 20 to 30 pink flowers per stem.

Botanical classification: Antirrhinum majus.

Cultivar designation: ‘Snap Daddy Pink’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a U.S. Plant Patent Application filed for a plant derived from the same breeding program that is entitled Antirrhinum Plant Named ‘Snap Daddy Yellow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,845).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum majus, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Snap Daddy Pink’. The new cultivar represents a new snapdragon, a half-hardy perennial grown as an annual in containers and garden beds.

‘Snap Daddy Pink’ arose as a naturally occurring meristematic mutation of a plant that was growing in a container derived from seed of Antirrhinum majus seed strain Liberty Classic Mix (not patented) during bedding plant production at the Inventor's nursery in Alpharetta, Ga. ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ was selected as a single unique plant in November of 2010 after stable foliage variegation was obtained through multiple rounds of propagation by stem tip cuttings.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem tip cuttings in November of 2010 in Alpharetta, Ga. under the direction of the Inventor. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar as grown in Alpharetta, Ga. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ from other varieties of Antirrhinum known to the Inventor.

-   -   1. ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ exhibits variegated foliage with distinct         cream-colored margins and soft, grey-green centers.     -   2. ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ exhibits new growth tips with yellow         margins and yellow-green centers.     -   3. ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ exhibits flowers that are pink in color.     -   4. ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ produces 20 to 30 flowers per stem (when         grown in winter in a single poly greenhouse under natural         light).     -   5. ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ is well branched.

The parent plant of ‘Snap Daddy Pink’, a seedling of the seed strain Liberty Classic Mix, differs from ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ in having non-variegated foliage that is dark green in color. ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ can be most closely compared to the cultivars ‘Snap Daddy Yellow’ and ‘Eternal’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,915), ‘Peppermint’ (unpatented) and ‘Candy Stripe’ (not patented), which are all similar to ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ in having variegated foliage. ‘Snap Daddy Yellow’ differs from ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ in having yellow flowers and new growth tips that are less yellow in color. ‘Eternal’ differs from ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ in being taller in height and less branched and in having flowers that are deeper pink in color. ‘Peppermint’ differs from ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ in having leaf margins that are less defined and in having a less vigorous growth habit. ‘Candy Stripe’ differs from ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ in having rose pink colored flowers and variegated margins that are wider and more variable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Antirrhinnum. The photographs were taken of plants about 4 months in age as grown in a greenhouse in one-gallon containers in Alpharetta, Ga.

The photographs in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 provide a view of the multiple branching, the foliage, and flowers of ‘Snap Daddy Pink’. The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Antirrhinum.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants about 4 months in age as grown in a greenhouse in one-gallon containers in Alpharetta, Ga. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—March through November in Atlanta, Ga.         -   Plant type.—Half-hardy herbaceous perennial typically grown             as an annual.         -   Plant habit.—Upright, dense.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches 30 to 38 cm in height and 20 to             25 cm in width.         -   Cold hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zone 7.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility to diseases or pests             has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. -   Growth and propagation:     -   -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Root initiation and development.—Roots initiate in about 2             weeks under mist and ambient light at 70° to 75° F., fully             develop a 1.5 inch plug in 4 to 6 weeks, and finish in a 3.5             inch pot from a 1.5 inch plug in about 6 weeks.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate to vigorous. -   Stem description:     -   -   Branch habit.—Well branched, an average of 10 lateral             branches per basal stem.         -   Stem size.—Main stem; average of 30 cm (including peduncle)             in length and 5.5 mm in width lateral branches; average of             15 cm in length and 3 mm in width.         -   Stem shape.—Oval.         -   Stem color.—A blend of 144D and 139D.         -   Stem surface.—Puberulent.         -   Stem aspect.—Upright, strong, with lateral branches held             from 45° to nearly upright.         -   Internode length.—Up to 7 mm, lateral branches emerge near             base. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 8 cm in length and 1 cm in width.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, midrib recessed on upper surface,             color on upper surface matches leaf color, color on lower             surface 191C.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Leaf surface.—Dull and very finely puberulent on upper and             lower surface.         -   Leaf variegation pattern.—Distinct creamy white margins an             average of 1.5 mm in width with grey-green centers.         -   Leaf color.—Newly emerged (growth tips) upper and lower             surface; centers 144C, margins; 4B, maturing upper surface;             centers 146B, margins 4C, maturing lower surface; centers             138B, margins 4C, fully mature upper surface; 189A and             margins, fully mature lower surface; centers 191A, margins             4D.         -   Leaf number.—Dense, an average of 30 mature leaves per             lateral branch 9 cm in length.         -   Leaf aspect.—Cascading downward from stem.         -   Leaf internode length.—An average of 5 mm between whorls. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal racemes of bilabiate, blooms             from the base to the apex.         -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 12 cm in length and 8 cm in             width.         -   Lastingness of flower.—About 5 days, not persistent.         -   Flower size.—About 4.5 cm in depth and about 3.7 cm in             diameter.         -   Flower fragrance.—Faint.         -   Flower number per inflorescence.—20 to 30 per stem in the             winter when grown in a single poly greenhouse under natural             light.         -   Peduncle.—Oval in shape, up to 15 cm in length and an             average of 4 mm in width, a blend of 144D and 139D in color,             surface is finely puberulent, flower internode length is an             average of 5 mm.         -   Pedicel.—About 7.5 mm in length, about 2 mm in width, oval             in shape, color is a blend of 144D and 139D in color,             surface is pubescent with glandular hairs, one leaf at base;             up to 3.5 cm in length and 9 mm in width with similar             characteristics to stem leaves.         -   Flower buds.—Kidney-shaped, about 2.7 cm in length and 1.3             cm in width, color of petal portion is a blend of 149D, 62B,             and 62D, calyx portion same as open flowers.         -   Flower type.—Bilabiate, held at about a 45° angle to             peduncle.         -   Calyx.—Campanulate, about 1 cm in length and 1.8 cm in             diameter, persistent.         -   Sepals.—5, fused at base only, elliptic in shape, 4.5 mm in             width and 7 mm in length broadly acute apex, margins entire,             variegated with centers 138A in color and margins 158A in             color, outer surface is highly pubescent with glandular             hairs, inner surface is puberulent and satiny.         -   Corolla features.—Bilabiate and fused to tube, upper lip;             comprised of 2 kidney-shaped lobes that are cup-like, each             lobe is about 2 cm in width and 2 cm in length with rounded             apex, lower lip; comprised of a 2 lobe banner and a raised             center lobe with keel and crested interior, combined an             average of 2.8 cm in width and 1.8 cm in depth, lower             surface of both lips sparsely pubescent and upper surface is             glabrous, margins of both lips are entire and slightly             ruffled, tube is about 3 cm in length and 1.2 cm in width,             color of outer and inner surface of upper and lower lip and             outer surface of tube is a blend of 62A, 62B, 62C and 63C             with the inner is surface of the lower lip is marked with             12B on keel, color of inner surface of tube color is a blend             of 62Dm and 62D with the crested region that extends into             tube 12B.         -   Receptacle.—Disk-shaped, gelatinous, 144A in color, about             2.5 mm in diameter and 1.5 mm in depth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, about 2 cm in length, style is NN155A             in color and 1.7 cm in length and 1.2 mm in width, stigma             expanded club-shape at terminus and about 145D in color,             ovary is superior, oblong in shape, 145D in color, 3 mm in             length and width.         -   Androcoecium.—4 stamens, not united, about 2.2 cm in length;             filament is 2 cm in length, 1 mm in width and NN155A in             color; anther is amorphously shaped, about 1.5 mm in length             and 1 mm in width and 13B in color, pollen is abundant in             quantity and 11A in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—Fruit; a capsule, oblong in shape with a             long thin beak, an average of 1.5 cm in length (including             beak 6 mm in length and 1 mm in width), color is a blend of             N199D, 200A and 202B, seeds; round, spiky, about 1.2 mm in             diameter, 200B in color. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum plant named ‘Snap Daddy Pink’ as herein illustrated and described. 